About Us

Penhaligon’s Friends is a Cornish charity supporting bereaved children, young people, parents, and carers throughout the county. We offer children and young people the chance to meet others and share their experiences, as well as practical resources to help children cope with their grief. We offer a range of support services including advice and resources, telephone support, family visits, groups, school visits, one to one support, and social events.

We also deliver an extensive programme of training and advice for other childcare professionals and those interested in becoming a volunteer. We aim to help the wider community to find appropriate ways of responding to bereaved children’s needs.

Over the years the organisation has grown and there are now 9 staff members and a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers.

 

Our History

Penhaligon’s Friends is a charitable organisation that was formed in February 1995 to identify and address the needs of bereaved children in Cornwall.

The idea grew from a bereavement forum representing a wide number of organisations including CRUSE, CLIC, Compassionate Friends, SANDS, SIDS, Child and Family Services (Education and Health), Macmillan Service, Hospital Chaplaincy, Hospice Southwest and Social Care.

Over the years we have grown the service to support local need and always use feedback and evaluation to shape our service.

At Penhaligon’s Friends we hope that bereaved children will feel a part of our organisation and believe that others will really understand and share their experiences.

 

Our Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

Penhaligon’s Friends’ vision is to provide a countywide bereavement pathway to meet the needs of bereaved children and their families, through support, resources and education.

 

Mission

To provide a supportive and educational environment where grieving children can share their experiences as they move through their healing process. To support family care givers, schools, professionals, and the wider community in responding to the needs of bereaved children and young people. To provide training in childhood loss and grief for family care givers, schools, professionals, and the wider community in Cornwall.

We will fulfil our mission by:

  • Responding promptly to all requests for advice, information and support.
  • Visiting families and children to explain about our support and offer them an opportunity to ask questions.
  • Providing a variety of support services for all ages to enable children and young people to have a choice in their grief support.
  • Maintaining policies and standards of practice relating to our work with children and the engagement of volunteers and employees.
  • Offering training and support to all volunteers, care givers and professionals from other statutory and voluntary agencies.
  • Monitoring and evaluating the service in order to shape service delivery and to provide evidence of monitoring to grant funders.
  • Having due regard for the health, safety and wellbeing of children and volunteers.
  • Working with other statutory and voluntary agencies in line with local and national initiatives in relation to the provision of children’s services.
  • Maintaining the profile of the organisation through a range of activities and networking.

Values

Penhaligon’s Friends believes that:

  • All children grieve and that grief should be normalised.
  • Society benefits from the sharing and understanding of children’s grief.
  • Early interventions have a positive effect on the psychological, physical and educational wellbeing of the child.
  • The organisation should pursue equal opportunities so that no child of whatever background is excluded.
  • All service users should be treated with respect and their confidentiality maintained.
  • All service users should have an opportunity to evaluate the service they have received.
  • All staff and volunteers should have the opportunity for professional and emotional support and development.

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